The Montgomery Botanical Gardens sincerely appreciates their dedicated garden volunteers and created a lovely way to demonstrate that during Volunteer Recognition Week with a special Garden Party on April 23, 2025. The Wisdom Wood Outdoor Classroom at MBG was prepared for the honored guests to their Garden Party with gorgeous arrangements of white lilies, colorful arrangements of garden flowers and beautifully displayed refreshments for all to enjoy before they were provided guided tours of the gardens. 

Master Gardener members from five counties surrounding Montgomery were invited to see what the Capital City Master Gardener Volunteers have accomplished in the gardens and encouraged to also become MBG volunteers. Montgomery Botanical Gardens at Oak Park is a beautiful oasis in the midst of urban Montgomery and an asset to the entire river region meant to be enjoyed by residents and tourists alike.  The Master Gardener visitors expressed their pleasure and approval as they viewed the bright Entrance gardens, the emerging bulb and tuber gardens, Sensory Garden, Daylily Display Garden, three Green Bridges Pollinator Gardens, the Lion Terrace, the Biblical Garden and the New Japanese Maple Garden. 

Sisters Mamie McClure and Nellie Humphries arriving at the party

Refreshments at the Garden Party  |  Cathy welcoming guests

Ethel Boykin describing garden beginnings

As the visitors were provided refreshments and took their seats, Cathy Maddox, President of MBG Board of Directors, Ethel Boykin, MBG Founder, and Fairlie Rinehart, MBG Designer, each gave a brief portion of the history of the creation and development of the gardens describing the trials and surprising accomplishments of the board and the volunteers. They displayed “before” and “after” photos of portions of the gardens. The board leases two sections of Oak Park from the city and will add more sections as their ability to develop more gardens develops. Montgomery Botanical Gardens at Oak Park is a 501c3 non-profit that is managed by a board of directors that was organized in 2013 and planting of the gardens began in 2017. Volunteers have been the key to creating and maintaining the gardens, especially members of Capital City Master Gardener Association who adopted the gardens as a major project of theirs in 2014. The gardens are a significant asset to local residents, businesses and tourists alike. MBG is constructing a new Pedestrian Entrance on Forest Avenue to facilitate easier access to the gardens and will include a sign so new visitors can identify where the gardens are located. A conceptual sketch of the entrance was on display.   

Fairlie Rinehart displaying sketch of new entrance

Photo of MG Interns in the garden

The following day, April 24, the 2025 Master Gardener Interns visited the gardens, practiced repotting trees in the greenhouse and then enjoyed lunch and more discussion with MBG board members. This annual event introduces the new Master Gardeners to volunteering at MBG which is a major project of the Capital City Master Gardener Association. Both the group of river region Master Gardeners at the Garden Party and the new Montgomery County Master Gardener Interns were encouraged to join and become members of MBG as well as volunteers.